Automated driving enabled vehicle

ABSTRACT

An automated driving enabled vehicle includes a travel controller, an automated driving indicator lamp, and a lamp controller. The automated driving indicator lamp is switched on perceptibly from outside the vehicle on the occasion of automated driving. The lamp controller acquires, during the execution of the automated driving, attribute information regarding a place being traveled by the vehicle. The lamp controller makes a lighting control of the automated driving indicator lamp during the execution of the automated driving, in accordance with the place being traveled by the vehicle executing the automated driving.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2019-175676 filed on Sep. 26, 2019, the entire contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The technology relates to an automated driving enabled vehicle.

As to vehicles, research and development of automated driving, orautomation of vehicle travel, has been in progress.

For example, vehicles in the future are expected to travel to adestination by an automatic control in response to setting of thedestination, and to stop and park at the destination.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the technology provides an automated driving enabledvehicle including a travel controller, an automated driving indicatorlamp, and a lamp controller. The travel controller is configured tocontrol travel of the vehicle while switching a travel control statebetween automated driving and manual driving. The automated drivingindicator lamp is configured to be switched on perceptibly from outsidethe vehicle on the occasion of the automated driving. The lampcontroller is configured to switch on the automated driving indicatorlamp to indicate that the travel control state is the automated driving,during execution of the automated driving in which the travel controllercontrols the travel of the vehicle by the automated driving. The lampcontroller is configured to acquire, during the execution of theautomated driving, attribute information regarding a place beingtraveled by the vehicle. The lamp controller is configured to make alighting control of the automated driving indicator lamp during theexecution of the automated driving, in accordance with the place beingtraveled by the vehicle executing the automated driving.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitutea part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments and,together with the specification, serve to explain the principles of thedisclosure.

FIGS. 1A to 1C are schematic diagrams of an automated driving enabledautomobile according to an embodiment of the technology.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of the automobileillustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a switching control between automated drivingand assisted manual driving.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a lighting control of an automated drivingindicator lamp in accordance with the switching control between theautomated driving and the assisted manual driving illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a lighting state control of the automateddriving indicator lamp during execution of the automated drivingaccording to the embodiment of the technology.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the lighting state control of the automateddriving indicator lamp, in a case where the automated driving iscancelled.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the lighting state control of the automateddriving indicator lamp, in a case where a disturbance or an abnormalityis detected or predicted during the execution of the automated driving.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of start-up, in accordance with user setting, ofthe lighting state control of the automated driving indicator lampduring the execution of the automated driving.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The aims of automated driving enabled vehicles may possibly includemaking appropriate selection of a travel path, a safety check of acourse, and an avoidance control of uncertainties, to travel to thedestination without an unanticipated incident.

Executing such a control for safer travel, however, would not guaranteesafety to 100% perfection. The possibility is that even such a travelcontrol by automated driving enabled vehicles will provide only alimited level of safety.

For example, automated driving enabled vehicles may include an automateddriving indicator lamp. Automated driving enabled vehicles may switch onthe automated driving indicator lamp perceptibly from outside them, in acase where they are executing automated driving. Reference is made to,for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A)Nos. 2018-032433 and 2019-064471.

Such an automated driving enabled vehicle switching on the automateddriving indicator lamp during the execution of the automated drivingmakes it possible for occupants of surrounding vehicles or nearbypedestrians to grasp the situation that the vehicle is executing theautomated driving, allowing the occupants or the pedestrians to take anaction or a prior countermeasure in response to the situation. Thesurrounding vehicles may be on a road or a lane on which the automateddriving enabled vehicle is traveling.

As described, a travel control of automated driving enabled vehiclesthemselves provides only a limited level of safety in their travelenvironment. Automated driving enabled vehicles owe their enhancedsafety to cooperation with surrounding vehicles and pedestrians.

On the other hand, keeping automated driving indicator lamps on duringthe execution of the automated driving contributes to an increase inpower consumption of automated driving enabled vehicles. In particular,for electrically powered vehicles, a steady increase in powerconsumption may shorten their cruising ranges and directly affect theirtravel performance.

Moreover, the possibility in the future is that places dedicated toautomated driving will be set. Non-limiting examples of such places mayinclude parking lots where solely automated driving enabled vehicles arepermitted to stop and park. Basically, such places dedicated to theautomated driving do not assume any entry of pedestrians or vehiclesotherwise controlled than the automated driving.

As described, automated driving enabled vehicles have had room forimprovements.

In the following, some preferred but non-limiting embodiments of thetechnology are described in detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. Note that the following description is directed toillustrative examples of the disclosure and not to be construed aslimiting to the technology. In each of the drawings referred to in thefollowing description, elements have different scales in order toillustrate the respective elements with sizes recognizable in thedrawings. Therefore, factors including, without limitation, the numberof each of the elements, the shape of each of the elements, a size ofeach of the elements, a dimension of each of the elements, a material ofeach of the elements, a ratio between the elements, relative positionalrelationship between the elements, and any other specific numericalvalue are illustrative only and not to be construed as limiting to thetechnology. Further, elements in the following example embodiments whichare not recited in a most-generic independent claim of the disclosureare optional and may be provided on an as-needed basis. Throughout thespecification and the drawings, elements having substantially the samefunction and configuration are denoted with the same referencecharacters to avoid redundant description, and elements not in directrelation to the technology may not be illustrated.

FIGS. 1A to 1C are schematic diagrams of an automated driving enabledautomobile 1 according to an embodiment of the technology. In thefollowing, the automated driving enabled automobile 1 is also simplyreferred to as an “automobile 1”.

FIGS. 1A to 1C schematically illustrate the automobile 1. In oneembodiment of the technology, the automobile 1 may serve as an“automated driving enabled vehicle” or a “vehicle”.

FIG. 1A is a top view of the automobile 1. FIG. 1A also illustratessurrounding automobiles 2 and a pedestrian 3. FIG. 1B is a side view ofthe automobile 1. FIG. 1C is a rear view of the automobile 1.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the automated driving enabledautomobile 1 is configured to travel in a parking lot where thesurrounding automobiles 2 are parking. As the parking lot, in thefuture, a parking lot dedicated to the automated driving enabledautomobile 1 may be provided.

Referring to FIGS. 1A to 1C, the automobile 1 is configured to travelwhile switching between automated driving and manual driving. Theautomobile 1 includes an automated driving indicator lamp 5. Theautomated driving indicator lamp 5 is configured to be switched on, onthe occasion of the automated driving.

The automated driving indicator lamp 5 may be a lamp that is switchedon, to indicate that the automated driving is in execution. Theautomated driving indicator lamp 5 may circumscribe a vehicle body 6 ofthe automobile 1, for example, on all sides, i.e., front, rear, rightand left sides, of the vehicle body 6. This makes it possible for thosearound the automobile 1, e.g., the pedestrian 3 and an occupant of thesurrounding automobile 2, to visually recognize, from outside theautomobile 1, illumination of the automated driving indicator lamp 5 onthe occasion of the execution of the automated driving. Switching on theautomated driving indicator lamp 5 on the occasion of the automateddriving makes it possible to receive cooperation with the pedestrian 3near the automobile 1 and the occupant of the surrounding automobile 2.Hence, it is possible to expect a higher level of safety than providedsolely by a travel control of the automobile 1 itself.

The automated driving indicator lamp 5 may have other configurationsthan described above. For example, the automated driving indicator lamp5 may be provided separately on four corners, i.e., front right, frontleft, rear right, and rear left corners, of the vehicle body 6. In onealternative, the automated driving indicator lamp 5 may be providedalong an outer periphery of a roof panel over a vehicle cabin. Inanother alternative, the automated driving indicator lamp 5 may protrudefrom the roof panel.

The automated driving indicator lamp 5 is configured to be switched on,in a case where the automobile 1 is traveling by the automated driving.Moreover, it is desirable that presence or absence of the illuminationof the automated driving indicator lamp 5 be perceptible to thoseoutside the automobile 1, e.g., the pedestrian 3 and the occupant of thesurrounding automobile 2. Accordingly, the illumination of the automateddriving indicator lamp 5 may have a color or brightness that is rare inexistence in the natural environment, e.g., turquoise blue. Strongillumination of turquoise blue light leads to higher possibility thatthe presence or the absence of the illumination of the automated drivingindicator lamp 5 becomes more perceptible to those outside theautomobile 1, e.g., the pedestrian 3 and the occupant of the surroundingautomobile 2. This makes it possible for those outside the automobile 1,e.g., the pedestrian 3 and the occupant of the surrounding automobile 2,to take an action or a prior countermeasure in response to, for example,the automobile 1 executing the automated driving.

On the other hand, keeping the automated driving indicator lamp 5 onduring the execution of the automated driving may cause an increase inpower consumption of the automated driving enabled automobile 1. Inparticular, for the electrically powered automobile 1, a steady increasein power consumption during the execution of the automated driving mayshorten its cruising range and directly affect its travel performance.

Moreover, selecting the bright color that is rare in existence in thenatural environment, e.g., turquoise blue, for the automated drivingindicator lamp 5 may cause the possibility that continuous and steadyillumination of the automated driving indicator lamp 5 makes those whoperceive the illumination feel uncomfortable or incongruous. Those whowork at a place with constant presence of the automated driving enabledautomobile 1 are forced to keep perceiving bright color light that israre in existence in the natural environment, e.g., turquoise blue.

As described, the automated driving enabled automobile 1 has had roomfor improvements.

FIG. 2 illustrates a control system 10 of the automobile 1 in FIGS. 1Ato 1C. The control system 10 of the automobile 1 may include a pluralityof controllers that are installed in their respective control ECUs(electronic control units). In FIG. 2, each of the plurality of thecontrollers is typically represented by a corresponding one of thecontrol ECUs. Each of the plurality of the controllers may include notonly the control ECU but also a storage member, input and output ports,a timer, and an internal bus to which the control ECU, the storagemember, the input and output ports, and the timer are coupled. Thestorage member may hold, for example, a control program and data. Theinput and output ports may be coupled to an object to be controlled,and/or to a device that detects a state of the object to be controlled.The timer may measure time and timing.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in one specific but non-limiting example, thecontrol ECUs may include a driving ECU 11, a steering ECU 12, a brakingECU 13, an automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14, a drivingoperation ECU 15, a detection ECU 16, an external communication ECU 17,a UI operation ECU 18, a lamp ECU 19, and an alarm ECU 20. The controlsystem 10 of the automobile 1 may further include other undepictedcontrol ECUs.

The plurality of the control ECUs may be coupled to a vehicle network 26adopted by the automobile 1 such as a CAN (controller area network) anda LIN (local interconnect network). The vehicle network 26 may include aplurality of bus cables 27 and a CGW (central gateway) 28. The pluralityof the bus cables 27 is able to be coupled to the plurality of thecontrol ECUs. The central gateway 28 may serve as a relay device towhich the plurality of the bus cables 27 is coupled. To the plurality ofthe control ECUs, their respective IDs (identifications) may beassigned. The IDs may differ from one another and serve asidentification information. Each of the control ECU may output,basically on a periodical basis, notification data to one or more of theother control ECUs. To the notification data, the ID of the sendercontrol ECU and the ID of the receiver control ECU may be attached. Theother control ECUs than the sender control ECU may monitor therespective ones of the bus cables 27 to which they are coupled. Forexample, in a case where any one of the other control ECUs finds the IDof the receiver control ECU to match its own ID, the relevant controlECU may acquire the notification data and execute processing based onthe notification data. The central gateway 28 may monitor each of theplurality of the bus cables 27 coupled to the central gateway 28. In acase where the central gateway 28 detects one or more of the othercontrol ECUs coupled to any one of the bus cables 27 different from thebus cable 27 to which the sender control ECU is coupled, the centralgateway 28 may supply the notification data to the relevant one of thebus cables 27. With such relay processing by the central gateway 28, itis possible for each of the control ECUs to send the notification datato one or more of the other control ECUs coupled to respective ones ofthe bus cables 27 different from the bus cable 27 to which the sendercontrol ECU is coupled. It is also possible for each of the control ECUsto receive the notification data from any one of the control ECUscoupled to the corresponding one of the bus cables 27 different from thebus cable 27 to which the receiver control ECU is coupled.

The external communication ECU 17 may perform wireless communicationwith, for example, a communication base station 101 and a communicationdevice of the surrounding automobile 2. The communication base station101 and the surrounding automobile 2 are present outside the automobile1. The communication base station 101 may be, for example, a basestation of an ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) communicationnetwork, or alternatively, the communication base station 101 may be,for example, a base station of a carrier communication network. The basestation of the carrier communication network may communicate not onlywith the communication device of the surrounding automobile 2 but alsowith a mobile device 102 held by the pedestrian 3. The externalcommunication ECU 17 may be divided into a plurality of subunits forrespective categories of partners with whom the external communicationECU 17 communicates directly, and the subunits may be provided in theautomobile 1. The communication base station 101, the communicationdevice of the surrounding automobile 2, and the mobile device 102,together with a server apparatus 103, may constitute a traffic system100. The external communication ECU 17 may transmit and receivecommunication data to and from the server apparatus 103, the surroundingautomobile 2, or the mobile device 102 by directly performing wirelesscommunication with the communication base station 101 or thecommunication device of the surrounding automobile 2.

To the UI operation ECU 18, a display device 21 and an operation device22 may be coupled as, for example, a user interface device with anoccupant of the automobile 1. The display device 21 may include, forexample, a liquid crystal device or a video projection device, or both.The operation device 22 may be, for example, a touchscreen, a keyboard,or a contactless operation sensing device, or any combination thereof.The display device 21 and the operation device 22 may be mounted on, forexample, an inner surface of the vehicle cabin in which the occupantrides. The UI operation ECU 18 may acquire the notification data fromthe vehicle network 26, and display the notification data on the displaydevice 21. The UI operation ECU 18 may output, to the vehicle network26, an operation input made on the operation device 22. Moreover, the UIoperation ECU 18 may perform processing based on the operation input andincorporate a result of the processing in the notification data. The UIoperation ECU 18 may provide, for example, display of a navigationscreen on the display screen 21. The navigation screen may allow forsetting of, for example, a destination. The UI operation ECU 18 maysearch a path to the destination selected by the operation input. The UIoperation ECU 18 may incorporate data regarding the path in thenotification data. The data regarding the path may include attributeinformation regarding, for example, lanes of roads to be used to movefrom a current position to the destination.

To the driving operation ECU 15, coupled may be operation members thatallow the occupant to control the travel of the automobile 1. Specificbut non-limiting examples of the operation members may include asteering wheel 31, a brake pedal 32, an accelerator pedal 33, and ashift lever 34. If any operation is made on the operation members, thedriving operation ECU 15 may output, to the vehicle network 26, thenotification data including, for example, presence or absence of theoperation and an amount of the operation. Moreover, the drivingoperation ECU 15 may execute processing regarding the operation on theoperation members, and incorporate a result of the processing in thenotification data. For example, if any operation is made on theaccelerator pedal 33, with presence of surrounding moving bodies and/orfixed objects in a traveling direction of the automobile 1, the drivingoperation ECU 15 may make a determination that the operation on theaccelerator pedal 33 is an abnormal operation. The driving operation ECU15 may incorporate the result of the determination in the notificationdata.

To the detection ECU 16, coupled may be detection members that detect atravel state of the automobile 1. Specific but non-limiting examples ofthe detection members may include a speed sensor 41, an accelerationsensor 42, an external camera 43, and a GPS receiver 44. The speedsensor 41 may detect a speed of the automobile 1. The accelerationsensor 42 may detect an acceleration rate of the automobile 1. Theexternal camera 43 may capture an image of external surroundings of theautomobile 1, and include, for example, a stereo camera. The GPSreceiver 44 may serve as a GNSS (global navigation satellite system)receiver that detects a position of the automobile 1. The detection ECU16 may acquire detection information from the detection members. Thedetection ECU 16 may output the notification data including thedetection information to the vehicle network 26. Furthermore, thedetection ECU 16 may execute processing based on the detectioninformation and incorporate a result of the processing in thenotification data. For example, in a case where the acceleration sensor42 detects the acceleration rate being higher than a threshold ofdetection of a collision, the detection ECU 16 may make a determinationthat a collision has been detected. The detection ECU 16 may incorporatethe result of the determination in the notification data. The detectionECU 16 may extract a moving body such as the pedestrian 3 or thesurrounding automobile 2 that are present around the automobile 1, onthe basis of the image of the external camera 43. The detection ECU 16may determine a kind and attributes of the moving body, and makeestimation of a relative direction, a relative distance, and a directionof movement of the moving body in accordance with a position, a size,and a change of the moving body in the image. The detection ECU 16 mayincorporate information regarding the moving body including a result ofthe estimation in the notification data and output the notification datato the vehicle network 26.

The automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 may acquire thenotification data from the vehicle network 26 and switch a travelcontrol state of the automobile 1 between the automated driving and themanual driving.

Moreover, the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 may acquirethe notification data from the vehicle network 26, execute a control forthe automated driving or driver assistance of the automobile 1, andgenerate travel control data to output the travel control data to thedriving ECU 11, the steering ECU 12, and the braking ECU 13. The drivingECU 11, the steering ECU 12, and the braking ECU 13 may control thetravel of the automobile 1 on the basis of the travel control data to besupplied.

In one embodiment of the technology, the automated driving and driverassistance ECU 14 may serve as a “travel controller”.

In one specific but non-limiting example, in performing the automateddriving of the automobile 1, the automated driving and driver assistanceECU 14 may acquire the notification data from the vehicle network 26 andsearch or acquire the path to the destination. The automated driving anddriver assistance ECU 14 may acquire the notification data from thevehicle network 26, determine presence or absence of an abnormality oruncertainties in the automobile 1. In a case without any abnormality oruncertainties in the automobile 1, the automated driving and driverassistance ECU 14 may generate the travel control data regarding acourse to be traveled along the path, and output the generated travelcontrol data as the notification data. The automated driving and driverassistance ECU 14 may control the travel of the automobile 1 on thebasis of positional information of the automobile 1 from, for example,the GPS receiver 44, to allow the automobile 1 to travel along the pathof its movement until an arrival at the destination, i.e., until theautomobile 1 stops, for example, in a parking lot at the destination. Ina case with an abnormality or uncertainties with respect to theautomobile 1, the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 maygenerate the travel control data to avoid the abnormality or theuncertainties, and output the generated travel control data as thenotification data.

In assisting with driving of the automobile 1, the automated driving anddriver assistance ECU 14 may acquire the notification data regarding theoperation input from the UI operation ECU 18 through the vehicle network26. The automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 may generate thetravel control data in which an operation based on the operation inputis adjusted, and output the travel control data as the notificationdata. The automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 may control thetravel of the automobile 1 in accordance with a driving operation by theoccupant. In a case with an abnormality or uncertainties with respect tothe automobile 1, the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 maygenerate the travel control data to avoid the abnormality or theuncertainties, and output the generated travel control data as thenotification data.

To the lamp ECU 19, coupled may be head lamps 51, turn signal lamps 52,stop lamps 53, and the automated driving indicator lamp 5. The headlamps 51 may be provided in a front part of the vehicle body 6 of theautomobile 1. The turn signal lamps 52 may be provided on front right,front rear, rear right, and rear left corners of the vehicle body 6. Thestop lamps 53 may be provided in a rear part of the vehicle body 6.Moreover, as illustrated in the figure, a memory 59 may be coupled tothe lamp ECU 19. The memory 59 coupled to the lamp ECU 19 may holdsetting values the lamp ECU 19 uses for a control.

In one embodiment of the technology, the lamp ECU 19 may serve as a“lamp controller”.

In one specific but non-limiting example, the lamp ECU 19 may acquire,from the vehicle network 26, the notification data for a lamp control.In accordance with the notification data acquired, the lamp ECU 19 maycontrol lighting states of the head lamps 51, the turn signal lamps 52,the stop lamps 53, and the automated driving indicator lamp 5. Forexample, in a case where the automated driving and driver assistance ECU14 is controlling the travel of the automobile 1 by the automateddriving, the lamp ECU 19 may switch on the automated driving indicatorlamp 5 during the execution of the automated driving. This makes itpossible for the moving body outside the automobile 1, e.g., thepedestrian 3 and the surrounding automobile 2, to visually recognize,with the clue of the illumination of the automated driving indicatorlamp 5, that the automobile 1 is executing the automated driving. Hence,it is possible for the moving body outside the automobile 1, e.g., thepedestrian 3 and the surrounding automobile 2, to cope with the travelof the automobile 1 executing the automated driving. The lamp ECU 19 mayperform a lighting control to switch off the automated driving indicatorlamp 5, in a case where, for example, travel environment of theautomobile 1 renders it unnecessary to switch on the automated drivingindicator lamp 5 regardless of the execution of the automated driving.

To the alarm ECU 20, an external speaker 61 may be coupled. The alarmECU 20 may acquire the notification data regarding an alarm output fromthe vehicle network 26 and output an alarm sound from the externalspeaker 61 in response to the notification data thus acquired.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a switching control between the automateddriving and assisted manual driving. The automated driving and driverassistance ECU 14 may repeatedly execute processing of FIG. 3 in a casewhere, for example, the occupant rides in the automobile 1.

In step ST1, the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 maydetermine whether or not to start the travel of the automobile 1. In acase where the travel of the automobile 1 is not going to be started (Nin step ST1), the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 mayterminate the processing of FIG. 3. In a case where the travel of theautomobile 1 is going to be started (Y in step ST1), the automateddriving and driver assistance ECU 14 may cause the processing to proceedto step ST2.

In step ST2, the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 maydetermine whether or not the travel of the automobile 1 is controlled bythe automated driving. The automated driving and driver assistance ECU14 may determine whether or not the travel of the automobile 1 iscontrolled by the automated driving on the basis of, for example, asetting value of a driving mode acquired from the UI operation ECU 18.In a case where the travel of the automobile 1 is controlled by theautomated driving (Y in step ST2), the automated driving and driverassistance ECU 14 may cause the processing to proceed to step ST3. In acase where the travel of the automobile 1 is not controlled by theautomated driving but is otherwise controlled, e.g., by the assistedmanual driving (N in step ST2), the automated driving and driverassistance ECU 14 may cause the processing to proceed to step ST7.

In step ST3, the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 maystart the travel by the automated driving. The automated driving anddriver assistance ECU 14 may control the travel of the automobile 1 bythe automated driving.

In step ST4, the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 maydetermine whether or not to finish the travel of the automobile 1. Theautomated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 may determine that thetravel of the automobile 1 is going to be finished, in a case where thepositional information of the automobile 1 indicates that the automobile1 is stopped, for example, in a parking lot at the destination of theautomated driving, with the acceleration rate being zero (0). Thepositional information of the automobile 1 may be acquired from theexternal communication ECU 17 or the GPS receiver 44. In a case wherethe automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 determines that thetravel of the automobile 1 is going to be finished (Y in step ST4), theautomated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 may terminate theprocessing of FIG. 3. Thus, the travel by the automated driving isfinished. In a case where the automated driving and driver assistanceECU 14 does not determine that the travel of the automobile 1 is goingto be finished (N in step ST4), the automated driving and driverassistance ECU 14 may cause the processing to proceed to step ST5.

In step ST5, the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 maydetermine whether or not to switch the travel of the automobile 1 fromthe automated driving to otherwise than the automated driving, e.g., themanual driving. The automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 maydetermine that the travel of the automobile 1 is going to be switchedfrom the automated driving, on the basis of, for example, the settingvalue of the driving mode acquired from the UI operation ECU 18. In acase where the travel of the automobile 1 is not going to be switchedfrom the automated driving to otherwise than the automated driving (N instep ST5), the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 may causethe processing to return to step ST4. The automated driving and driverassistance ECU 14 may repeat the determinations of steps ST4 and ST5while the automated driving is in execution. In a case where the travelof the automobile 1 is going to be switched from the automated drivingto otherwise than the automated driving (Y in step ST5), the automateddriving and driver assistance ECU 14 may cause the processing to proceedto step ST6.

In step ST6, the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 mayswitch the travel of the automobile 1 from the automated driving tootherwise than the automated driving, e.g., the assisted manual driving.Thus, the travel by the automated driving is finished, and the travel bythe manual driving is started. Thereafter, the automated driving anddriver assistance ECU 14 may cause the processing to proceed to stepST8.

In step ST7, the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 maystart the assisted manual driving or otherwise than the automateddriving.

In step ST8, the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 maydetermine whether or not to finish the travel of the automobile 1. Forexample, the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 maydetermine that the travel of the automobile 1 is going to be finished,in a case where the automobile 1 is stopped, with the acceleration ratebeing zero (0), and an operation is made on an ignition switch of theautomobile 1. In a case with a determination that the travel of theautomobile 1 is going to be finished (Y in step ST8), the automateddriving and driver assistance ECU 14 may terminate the processing ofFIG. 3. Thus, the travel by the assisted manual driving is finished. Ina case without the determination that the travel of the automobile 1 isgoing to be finished (N in step ST8), the automated driving and driverassistance ECU 14 may cause the processing to proceed to step ST9.

In step ST9, the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 maydetermine whether or not to switch the travel of the automobile 1 fromthe assisted manual driving to the automated driving. The automateddriving and driver assistance ECU 14 may determine that the travel ofthe automobile 1 is going to be switched from the assisted manualdriving, on the basis of, for example, the setting value of the drivingmode acquired from the UI operation ECU 18. In a case where the travelof the automobile 1 is not going to be switched from the assisted manualdriving to the automated driving (N in step ST9), the automated drivingand driver assistance ECU 14 may cause the processing to return to stepST8. The automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 may repeat thedeterminations of steps ST8 and ST9 while the assisted manual driving isin execution. In a case where the travel of the automobile 1 is going tobe switched from the assisted manual driving to the automated driving (Yin step ST9), the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 maycause the processing to proceed step ST10.

In step ST10, the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 mayswitch the travel of the automobile 1 from the assisted manual drivingto the automated driving. Thus, the travel by the assisted manualdriving is finished, and the travel by the automated driving is started.Thereafter, the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 may causethe processing to proceed to step ST4.

As described, the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 mayrepeatedly execute the processing of FIG. 3, in a case where, forexample, the automobile 1 is traveling, with the occupant ridingtherein. For example, the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14may acquire, through the vehicle network 26, the notification datainclusive of setting information of the driving mode from the UIoperation ECU 18, and switch the travel of the automobile 1 between theautomated driving and the assisted manual driving. Moreover, theautomated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 may acquire thenotification data inclusive of an instruction to compulsively switch tothe manual driving, and switch the travel of the automobile 1 betweenthe automated driving and the assisted manual driving. Such aninstruction may be based on, for example, detection of an abnormalityfrom the detection ECU 16. Furthermore, the automated driving and driverassistance ECU 14 itself may generate the notification data inclusive ofthe instruction based on the detection of an abnormality, tocompulsively switch to the manual driving, and switch the travel of theautomobile 1 between the automated driving and the assisted manualdriving.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the lighting control of the automated drivingindicator lamp 5 in accordance with the switching control between theautomated driving and the assisted manual driving illustrated in FIG. 3.

The lamp ECU 19 may repeatedly execute processing of FIG. 4, whilekeeping on acquiring, as the notification data, information from theautomated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 controlling the travel ofthe automobile 1.

In step ST11, the lamp ECU 19 may determine whether or not the travel ofthe automobile 1 by the automated driving has been started. The lamp ECU19 may acquire, for example, information and/or notification theautomated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 outputs to the vehiclenetwork 26 for a control of the automated driving, and determine whetheror not the travel of the automobile 1 by the automated driving has beenstarted. In a case where the travel of the automobile 1 by the automateddriving has not been started (N in step ST11), the lamp ECU 19 mayterminate the processing of FIG. 4. In a case where the travel of theautomobile 1 by the automated driving has been started (Y in step ST11),the lamp ECU 19 may cause the processing to proceed to step ST12.

In step ST12, the lamp ECU 19 may determine whether or not the placebeing traveled by the automobile 1 is an exclusive area for theautomated driving. The exclusive area for the automated driving mayinclude, for example, a parking lot exclusive for autonomous cars. Inaddition, for example, the exclusive area for the automated driving maybe a place that assumes solely entry of autonomous cars. In a case wherethe automobile 1 is not traveling in the exclusive area for theautomated driving (N in step ST12), the lamp ECU 19 may cause theprocessing to step ST13. In a case where the automobile 1 is travelingin the exclusive area for the automated driving (Y in step ST12), thelamp ECU 19 may cause the processing to skip step ST13 to proceed tostep ST14.

The parking lot exclusive for the autonomous cars basically does notassume any entry of pedestrians, automobiles that are not able toperform the automated driving, and automobiles that are not executingthe automated driving. In this case, the external communication ECU 17may acquire, from the server apparatus 103, information regarding theplace being traveled by the automobile 1. Such information may beincluded in navigation information and ETC (electronic toll collectionsystem) information. On the basis of the information thus acquired, theexternal communication ECU 17 or the lamp ECU 19 may determine whetheror not the place being traveled by the automobile 1 is the parking lotexclusive for the autonomous cars. In addition, for example, theexternal communication ECU 17 may acquire these pieces of informationby, for example, inter-vehicle communication. Moreover, the detectionECU 16 may allow the external camera 43 to capture an image of the placebeing traveled by the automobile 1. The detection ECU 16 or the lamp ECU19 may detect, from the contents of the captured image, a road surfacemark, a sign, and gates of an entrance and an exit of the parking lot,to determine whether or not the place being traveled by the automobile 1is the parking lot exclusive for the autonomous cars.

In step ST13, the lamp ECU 19 may switch on the automated drivingindicator lamp 5. Thus, the automated driving indicator lamp 5 isswitched on at a start of the travel of the automobile 1 by theautomated driving in other places than the exclusive area for theautomated driving.

In step ST14, the lamp ECU 19 may determine whether or not the travel ofthe automobile 1 by the automated driving has been finished. Forexample, the lamp ECU 19 may determine whether or not the travel of theautomobile 1 by the automated driving has been finished, on the basis ofan end of acquisition of the information supplied to the vehicle network26 from the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 for thecontrol of the automated driving. Alternatively, the lamp ECU 19 maydetermine whether or not the travel of the automobile 1 by the automateddriving has been finished, by acquiring notification that the automateddriving has been finished. In a case where the travel of the automobile1 by the automated driving has not been finished (N in step ST14), thelamp ECU 19 may cause the processing to return to step ST12. In a casewhere the travel of the automobile 1 by the automated driving has beenfinished (Y in step ST14), the lamp ECU 19 may cause the processing toproceed to step ST15.

In step ST15, the lamp ECU 19 may determine whether or not the automateddriving indicator lamp 5 is on. In a case where the automated drivingindicator lamp 5 is on (Y in step ST15), the lamp ECU 19 may cause theprocessing to proceed to step ST16. In a case where the automateddriving indicator lamp 5 is not on (N in step ST15), the lamp ECU 19 maycause the processing to skip the process of step ST16 and terminate theprocessing of FIG. 4.

In step ST16, the lamp ECU 19 may switch off the automated drivingindicator lamp 5 that has been on.

As described, the lamp ECU 19 may basically switch on the automateddriving indicator lamp 5 during the execution of the automated drivingin which the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 controls thetravel of the automobile 1 by the automated driving.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a lighting state control of the automateddriving indicator lamp 5 during the execution of the automated drivingaccording to an embodiment of the technology.

The lamp ECU 19 may repeatedly execute processing of FIG. 5, whilekeeping on acquiring, as the notification data, the information from theautomated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 controlling the travel ofthe automobile 1 by, for example, the automated driving.

In one embodiment of the technology, the lamp ECU 19 may serve as the“lamp controller”.

In step ST21, the lamp ECU 19 may determine whether or not the automateddriving is in execution. The lamp ECU 19 may acquire, for example, theinformation and/or the notification the automated driving and driverassistance ECU 14 outputs to the vehicle network 26 for the control ofthe automated driving, and determine whether or not the automateddriving is in execution. In a case where the automated driving is not inexecution (N in step ST21), the lamp ECU 19 may terminate the processingof FIG. 5. In a case where the automated driving is in execution (Y instep ST21), the lamp ECU 19 may cause the processing to proceed to stepST22.

In step ST22, the lamp ECU 19 may acquire information regarding thetravel control state of the automobile 1, as the notification data, fromthe various control ECUs of the automobile 1 through the vehicle network26. The lamp ECU 19 may acquire, for example, information regarding theposition, the speed, the acceleration rate, the course, presence orabsence of a failure, and lighting states of various lamps, as to theautomobile 1.

In step ST23, the lamp ECU 19 may acquire information regarding thetravel environment, as the notification data, from the various controlECUs of the automobile 1 such as the external communication ECU 17 andthe detection ECU 16 through the vehicle network 26.

The lamp ECU 19 may acquire, for example, attribute informationregarding the place being traveled by the automobile 1. The informationregarding the place may include information indicating whether or notthe place is the exclusive area for the automated driving. Specific butnon-limiting examples of the exclusive area for the automated drivingmay include the parking lot exclusive for the autonomous cars. Theexternal communication ECU 17 is configured to acquire the attributeinformation regarding the place being traveled, on the basis of thenavigation information, V2V (virtual to virtual) received information,and the ETC information by the ADAS communication. The detection ECU 16is configured to detect the place being traveled, by the image capturedby the external camera 43. Moreover, the detection ECU 16 is configuredto detect whether or not the place being traveled by the automobile 1 isthe parking lot exclusive for the autonomous cars, by the road surfacemark, the sign, and the gates of the entrance and the exit of theparking lot exclusive for the autonomous cars that are captured in theimage.

In addition, for example, the lamp ECU 19 may further acquireinformation regarding a position, a speed, a predicted course,possibility of a collision, and attributes of a surrounding moving bodypresent around the automobile 1. The external communication ECU 17 isconfigured to acquire the information regarding the surrounding movingbody present around the automobile 1, on the basis of the navigationinformation, the V2V received information, and the ETC information bythe ADAS communication. The detection ECU 16 is configured to detect thesurrounding moving body present around the automobile 1, by the imagecaptured by the external camera 43, to determine the attributes of thesurrounding moving body. Moreover, the detection ECU 16 is configured todetect the surrounding moving body present around the automobile 1 by anundepicted Lidar (light detection and ranging) or laser, to determinethe attributes of the surrounding moving body thus detected.

In step ST24, the lamp ECU 19 may determine whether or not a travelingposition of the automobile 1 is in the exclusive area for the automateddriving. In a case where the automobile 1 is traveling in the exclusivearea for the automated driving (Y in step ST24), the lamp ECU 19 maycause the processing to proceed to step ST25. In a case where theautomobile 1 is not traveling in the exclusive area for the automateddriving (N in step ST24), the lamp ECU 19 may cause the processing toproceed to step ST29.

In step ST25, the lamp ECU 19 may determine presence or absence of amoving body around the automobile 1, e.g., a surrounding vehicle and apedestrian. In a case with the presence of a surrounding moving bodyaround the automobile 1 (Y in step ST25), the lamp ECU 19 may cause theprocessing to proceed to step ST26. In a case with the absence of asurrounding moving body around the automobile 1 (N in step ST25), thelamp ECU 19 may cause the processing to proceed to step ST29.

In step ST26, the lamp ECU 19 may determine whether or not all thesurrounding automobiles present around the automobile 1 are autonomouscars. In a case where all the surrounding automobiles present around theautomobile 1 are autonomous cars (Y in step ST26), the lamp ECU 19 maycause the processing to proceed to step ST27. In a case where some ofthe surrounding automobiles present around the automobile 1 areautomobiles other than autonomous cars (N in step ST26), the lamp ECU 19may cause the processing to proceed to step ST29.

In step ST27, the lamp ECU 19 may determine whether or not the automateddriving indicator lamp 5 is on. In a case where the automated drivingindicator lamp 5 is on (Y in step ST27), the lamp ECU 19 may cause theprocessing to proceed to step ST28. In a case where the automateddriving indicator lamp 5 is not on (N in step ST27), the lamp ECU 19 maycause the processing to proceed to step ST31.

In step ST28, the lamp ECU 19 may switch off the automated drivingindicator lamp 5 that has been on. Thereafter, the lamp ECU 19 may causethe processing to proceed to step ST31.

In step ST29, the lamp ECU 19 may determine whether or not the automateddriving indicator lamp 5 is off. In a case where the automated drivingindicator lamp 5 is off (Y in step ST29), the lamp ECU 19 may cause theprocessing to proceed to step ST30. In a case where the automateddriving indicator lamp 5 is not off, i.e., in a case where the automateddriving indicator lamp 5 is on (N in step ST29), the lamp ECU 19 maycause the processing to proceed to step ST31.

In step ST30, the lamp ECU 19 may switch on the automated drivingindicator lamp 5 that has been off. Thereafter, the lamp ECU 19 maycause the processing to proceed to step ST31.

In step ST31, the lamp ECU 19 may determine if there has been any changein the lighting state of the automated driving indicator lamp 5. Thelamp ECU 19 may determine that there has been a change in the lightingstate of the automated driving indicator lamp 5, in a case where theautomated driving indicator lamp 5 that has been on is switched off, orin a case where the automated driving indicator lamp 5 is switched backon that has been off. In a case with the change in the lighting state ofthe automated driving indicator lamp 5 (Y in step ST31), the lamp ECU 19may cause the processing to proceed to step ST32. In a case without thechange in the lighting state of the automated driving indicator lamp 5(N in step ST31), the lamp ECU 19 may terminate the processing of FIG.5.

In step ST32, the lamp ECU 19 may output, to the vehicle network 26, aninstruction to output an alarm. The alarm ECU 20 may acquire, from thevehicle network 26, the instruction to output the alarm. Thereupon, thealarm ECU 20 may output an alarm sound from the external speaker 61. Thealarm ECU 20 may output the alarm, in the case with the change in thelighting state of the automated driving indicator lamp 5 during theexecution of the automated driving in which the automated driving anddriver assistance ECU 14 controls the travel of the automobile 1 by theautomated driving. Those around the automobile 1, e.g., the occupant ofthe nearby surrounding automobile 2, can hear the alarm sound.

As described, the lamp ECU 19 is configured to change the lighting stateof the automated driving indicator lamp 5 during the execution of theautomated driving, in response to the change in the travel control stateor the change in the travel environment, or both. The lamp ECU 19 mayswitch off the automated driving indicator lamp 5 during the executionof the automated driving, in the case where the travel environmentrenders it unnecessary to switch on the automated driving indicator lamp5 regardless of the execution of the automated driving. Non-limitingexamples of such travel environment may include the exclusive place forthe automated driving. In addition, the lamp ECU 19 may switch theautomated driving indicator lamp 5 back on that has been off during theexecution of the automated driving, in the case where the automobile 1executing the automated driving has left the exclusive area for theautomated driving and is traveling.

Moreover, in the travel environment other than the exclusive place forthe automated driving, the lamp ECU 19 may switch the automated drivingindicator lamp 5 back on that has been off during the execution of theautomated driving in the exclusive place for the automated driving.Regardless of the execution of the automated driving in the exclusiveplace for the automated driving, the lamp ECU 19 is configured to switchthe automated driving indicator lamp 5 back on that has been off duringthe execution of the automated driving, in the case with the presence ofa surrounding moving body other than an autonomous car present aroundthe automobile 1. Furthermore, the alarm ECU 20 may output the alarm inthe case with the change in the lighting state of the automated drivingindicator lamp 5 during the execution of the automated driving.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the lighting state control of the automateddriving indicator lamp 5, in a case where the automated driving iscancelled.

The lamp ECU 19 may repeatedly execute processing of FIG. 6, whilekeeping on acquiring, as the notification data, the information from theautomated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 controlling the travel ofthe automobile 1 by, for example, the automated driving.

In one embodiment of the technology, the lamp ECU 19 may serve as the“lamp controller”.

In step ST41, the lamp ECU 19 may determine whether or not the automateddriving is in execution. The lamp ECU 19 may acquire, for example, theinformation and/or the notification the automated driving and driverassistance ECU 14 outputs to the vehicle network 26 for the control ofthe automated driving, and determine whether or not the automateddriving is in execution. In a case where the automated driving is not inexecution (N in step ST41), the lamp ECU 19 may repeat the determinationprocess of step ST41. In a case where the automated driving is inexecution (Y in step ST41), the lamp ECU 19 may cause the processing toproceed to step ST42.

In step ST42, the lamp ECU 19 may determine whether or not the automateddriving has been canceled after a start of the automated driving. Thelamp ECU 19 may acquire, for example, the information and/or thenotification the automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 outputsto the vehicle network 26 for the control of the automated driving, anddetermine whether or not the automated driving has been canceled. In acase where the automated driving has not been canceled (N in step ST42),the lamp ECU 19 may terminate the processing of FIG. 6. In a case wherethe automated driving has been canceled (Y in step ST42), the lamp ECU19 may cause the processing to proceed to step ST43.

In step ST43, the lamp ECU 19 may acquire information regarding thelighting state of the automated driving indicator lamp 5, and determinewhether or not the automated driving indicator lamp 5 is off during theexecution of the automated driving. In a case where the automateddriving indicator lamp 5 is not off, i.e., in a case where the automateddriving indicator lamp 5 is on during the execution of the automateddriving (N in step ST43), the lamp ECU 19 may cause the processing toproceed to step ST45. In a case where the automated driving indicatorlamp 5 is off during the execution of the automated driving (Y in stepST43), the lamp ECU 19 may cause the processing to proceed to step ST44.

In step ST44, the lamp ECU 19 may switch the automated driving indicatorlamp 5 back on that has been off during the execution of the automateddriving.

In step ST45, the lamp ECU 19 may switch off the automated drivingindicator lamp 5 that has been temporarily switched back on or that hasbeen on.

As described, the lamp ECU 19 may switch the automated driving indicatorlamp 5 back on, and afterwards, switch off the automated drivingindicator lamp 5, in the case where the automated driving and driverassistance ECU 14 switches the travel control state of the automobile 1from the automated driving to, for example, the assisted manual driving,during the execution of the automated driving, with the automateddriving indicator lamp 5 off. In a case with an override from theautomated driving to the manual driving during the execution of theautomated driving, with the automated driving indicator lamp 5 off, thelamp ECU 19 may switch the automated driving indicator lamp 5 back on,and afterwards, switch off the automated driving indicator lamp 5, evenif the automobile 1 is traveling in the exclusive area for the automateddriving. Switching the automated driving indicator lamp 5 back on makesit possible for those present in the exclusive area for the automateddriving, e.g., the surrounding automobile 2, its occupant, and thepedestrian 3, to recognize a change in a driving state of the automobile1.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the lighting state control of the automateddriving indicator lamp 5, in a case where a disturbance or anabnormality is detected or predicted during the execution of theautomated driving.

The lamp ECU 19 may repeatedly execute processing of FIG. 7, whilekeeping on acquiring the notification data from the automated drivingand driver assistance ECU 14 controlling the travel of the automobile 1by, for example, the automated driving.

In one embodiment of the technology, the lamp ECU 19 may serve as the“lamp controller”.

For example, the detection ECU 16 may predict a collision with a nearbymoving body captured by the external camera 43, detect the collision bythe acceleration sensor 42, and output them as the notification data.The external communication ECU 17 may acquire information regarding, forexample, a traffic congestion and a falling object on the lane or theroad being traveled by the automobile 1, on the basis of, for example,traffic information by the ADAS communication. The externalcommunication ECU 17 may output the acquired information as thenotification data. The automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14may determine a failure state of equipment of the automobile 1, andoutput a determination result as the notification data.

In step ST51, the lamp ECU 19 may determine whether or not the automateddriving is in execution. The lamp ECU 19 may acquire, for example, theinformation and/or the notification the automated driving and driverassistance ECU 14 outputs to the vehicle network 26 for the control ofthe automated driving, and determine whether or not the automateddriving is in execution. In a case where the automated driving is not inexecution (N in step ST51), the lamp ECU 19 may repeat the determinationprocess of step ST51. In a case where the automated driving is inexecution (Y in step ST51), the lamp ECU 19 may cause the processing toproceed to step ST52.

In step ST52, the lamp ECU 19 may determine whether or not anydisturbance or abnormality has been detected or predicted after thestart of the automated driving. The lamp ECU 19 may acquire thenotification from, for example, the automated driving and driverassistance ECU 14, and determine presence or absence of any disturbanceor abnormality after the start of the automated driving. In a case withno disturbance nor abnormality after the start of the automated driving(N in step ST52), the lamp ECU 19 may terminate the processing of FIG.7. In a case with some disturbance or abnormality after the start of theautomated driving (Y in step ST52), the lamp ECU 19 may cause theprocessing to proceed to step ST53.

In step ST53, the lamp ECU 19 may acquire the information regarding thelighting state of the automated driving indicator lamp 5 and determinewhether or not the automated driving indicator lamp 5 is off during theexecution of the automated driving. In a case where the automateddriving indicator lamp 5 is not off, that is, in a case where theautomated driving indicator lamp 5 is on during the execution of theautomated driving (N in step ST53), the lamp ECU 19 may terminate theprocessing of FIG. 7. In a case where the automated driving indicatorlamp 5 is off during the execution of the automated driving (Y in stepST53), the lamp ECU 19 may cause the processing to proceed to step ST54.

In step ST54, the lamp ECU 19 may switch the automated driving indicatorlamp 5 back on that has been off during the execution of the automateddriving.

As described, in the case with some disturbance or abnormality afterswitching off the automated driving indicator lamp 5 during theexecution of the automated driving, the lamp ECU 19 may switch theautomated driving indicator lamp 5 back on that has been off during theexecution of the automated driving. The lamp ECU 19 may switch theautomated driving indicator lamp 5 back on that has been off during theexecution of the automated driving, in the case where any abnormality ordisturbance affecting the travel of the automobile 1 is detected orpredicted, with the automated driving indicator lamp 5 off during theexecution of the automated driving. Switching the automated drivingindicator lamp 5 back on makes it possible for, without limitation, asubsequent vehicle on, for example, the exclusive lane for the automateddriving to recognize that some change, including an abnormal situation,has occurred in the automobile 1 executing the automated driving.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of start-up, in accordance with user setting, ofthe lighting state control of the automated driving indicator lamp 5during the execution of the automated driving.

The lamp ECU 19 may repeatedly execute processing of FIG. 8, forexample, at start-up of the automobile 1, with the occupant getting intothe automobile 1. The lamp ECU 19 may repeatedly execute the processingof FIG. 8, for example, on acquiring, from the UI operation ECU 18, thenotification data regarding an instruction to start up in response to anoperation on an undepicted start switch provided on the automobile 1.

In step ST61, the lamp ECU 19 may determine whether or not to start upthe automobile 1. In a case where the automobile 1 is not going to bestarted up (N in step ST61), the lamp ECU 19 may terminate theprocessing of FIG. 8. In a case where the automobile 1 is going to bestarted up (Y in step ST61), the lamp ECU 19 may cause the processing toproceed to step ST62.

In step ST62, the lamp ECU 19 may acquire a user setting value from thememory 59 coupled to the lamp ECU 19. The user setting value may be heldin the memory 59. The user setting value may include a setting value oflamp lighting acquired from the UI operation ECU 18 by the user'ssetting operation in advance. The user setting value may further includea setting value as to whether or not to permit the lighting control ofthe automated driving indicator lamp 5 during the execution of theautomated driving. A default setting value may be a value that permitsthe lighting control, or alternatively, the default setting value may bea value that inhibits the lighting control.

In step ST63, the lamp ECU 19 may determine whether or not the usersetting value thus acquired permits the lighting control. The usersetting value may be the setting value as to whether or not to permitthe lighting control of the automated driving indicator lamp 5. In acase where the user setting value is a value that does not permit thelighting control, i.e., in a case where the user setting value is thevalue that inhibits the lighting control (N in step ST63), the lamp ECU19 may terminate the processing of FIG. 8. In a case where the usersetting value is the value that permits the lighting control (Y in stepST63), the lamp ECU 19 may cause the processing to proceed to step ST64.

In step ST64, the lamp ECU 19 may start up the processing of thelighting state control of the automated driving indicator lamp 5 duringthe execution of the automated driving. The processing to be started uphere may be, for example, the processing of FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. In thecase with the user's permission to carry out the lighting control of theautomated driving indicator lamp 5 during the execution of the automateddriving (Y in step ST63), the automated driving indicator lamp 5 has itslighting state controlled during the execution of the automated driving,on the basis of the user setting.

Meanwhile, in the case with the user's inhibition from carrying out thelighting control of the automated driving indicator lamp 5 during theexecution of the automated driving (N in step ST63), the process of stepST64 is not executed. The lamp ECU 19 may execute only the processing ofFIG. 4. In this case, the automated driving indicator lamp 5 has nolonger its lighting state controlled during the execution of theautomated driving. Thus, the automated driving indicator lamp 5 is kepton during the execution of the automated driving.

As described, the lamp ECU 19 is configured to control whether or not tochange the lighting state of the automated driving indicator lamp 5during the execution of the automated driving, on the basis of the usersetting regarding the lighting control of the automated drivingindicator lamp 5 during the execution of the automated driving.

It is to be noted that the lamp ECU 19 may control lighting states ofother lamps than the automated driving indicator lamp 5, on the basis ofuser setting, in accordance with, for example, whether or not theautomated driving is in execution. For example, the lamp ECU 19 maycontrol the lighting states of other lamps than the automated drivingindicator lamp 5, in accordance with the lighting control of theautomated driving indicator lamp 5 during the execution of the automateddriving.

As described, in this embodiment, the lamp ECU 19 is configured toswitch on the automated driving indicator lamp 5 during the execution ofthe automated driving in which the automated driving and driverassistance ECU 14 of the automobile 1 controls the travel of theautomobile 1 by the automated driving. The automated driving indicatorlamp 5 indicates that the travel control state of the automobile 1 isthe automated driving. In one embodiment of the technology, theautomated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 may serve as the “travelcontroller”. Hence, it is possible for those outside the automobile 1,e.g., the pedestrian 3 and/or the occupant of the surrounding automobile2, to recognize that the automobile 1 is executing the automateddriving.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the lamp ECU 19 is configured, not to keepthe automated driving indicator lamp 5 on during the execution of theautomated driving, but to change the lighting state of the automateddriving indicator lamp 5, in accordance with the place being traveled bythe automobile 1 executing the automated driving.

In one specific but non-limiting example, the lamp ECU 19 is basicallyconfigured to switch off the automated driving indicator lamp 5 duringthe execution of the automated driving, in the case where the automobile1 executing the automated driving is traveling in the exclusive placefor the automated driving. This leads to reduction in the powerconsumption of the automated driving indicator lamp 5. Hence, it ispossible to reduce the power consumption of the automated drivingindicator lamp 5, in comparison to a case where the automated drivingindicator lamp 5 is kept on. This allows for reduction in wasteful powerconsumption. Moreover, the exclusive place for the automated driving,e.g., the parking lot exclusive for the autonomous cars, basicallyassumes no entry of the pedestrian 3 and the surrounding automobile 2that is not executing the automated driving. Accordingly, switching offthe automated driving indicator lamp 5 in the exclusive place for theautomated driving is barely likely to inhibit the automated drivingindicator lamp 5 from giving notification by its illumination to thesurrounding moving body.

Furthermore, in the case with the presence of the surrounding movingbody around the automobile 1, or in a case with emergent presence of thesurrounding moving body around the automobile 1, while the automobile 1is traveling by the automated driving in the exclusive place for theautomated driving, with the automated driving indicator lamp 5 off, thelamp ECU 19 is configured to switch on the automated driving indicatorlamp 5 during the execution of the automated driving. In this case, thelamp ECU 19 may switch on the automated driving indicator lamp 5, inaccordance with the presence or absence of the surrounding moving bodyaround the automobile 1. In one alternative, the lamp ECU 19 may switchon the automated driving indicator lamp 5, in accordance with whether ornot the surrounding moving body present around the automobile 1 is anautonomous car. In either case, the lamp ECU 19 may switch on theautomated driving indicator lamp 5, to give notification that theautomated driving is in execution, to those around the automobile 1 towhom giving such notification is considered necessary. Non-limitingexamples may include the pedestrian 3 and the occupant of thesurrounding automobile 2 that is not executing the automated driving.Meanwhile, in a case where such notification is less necessary, the lampECU 19 may switch off the automated driving indicator lamp 5 or keep theautomated driving indicator lamp 5 off.

Although some preferred embodiments of the technology are describedabove by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, thetechnology is by no means limited to the embodiments described above. Itshould be appreciated that modifications and alterations may be made bypersons skilled in the art without departing from the scope as definedby the appended claims.

For example, in the forgoing embodiments, in the case with the change inthe lighting state of the automated driving indicator lamp 5, the alarmECU 20 may output the alarm sound from the external speaker 61.

In one alternative, for example, in the case with the change in thelighting state of the automated driving indicator lamp 5, the externalcommunication ECU 17 may transmit the travel control state of theautomobile 1 as the communication data.

Moreover, in the case with the automated driving indicator lamp 5 offduring the execution of the automated driving, the externalcommunication ECU 17 may periodically transmit, as the communicationdata, the travel control state of the automobile 1 being the automateddriving in execution.

In the case with the automated driving indicator lamp 5 off during theexecution of the automated driving, the alarm ECU 20 may output thealarm sound at intermittent time intervals from the external speaker 61.

In the case with the automated driving indicator lamp 5 off during theexecution of the automated driving, the UI operation ECU 18 may providecontinuous display of information indicating that the automated drivingindicator lamp 5 is off during the execution of the automated driving.

In the forgoing embodiments, all of the determination processesdescribed in FIGS. 5 to 8 are performed in the lamp ECU 19.

In one alternative, for example, some or all of the determinationprocesses described in FIGS. 5 to 8 may be performed otherwise than bythe lamp ECU 19. For example, some or all of the determination processesdescribed in FIGS. 5 to 8 may be performed by the automated driving anddriver assistance ECU 14.

The automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 and the lamp ECU 19illustrated in FIG. 2 are implementable by circuitry including at leastone semiconductor integrated circuit such as at least one processor(e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)), at least one applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC), and/or at least one fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA). At least one processor is configurable,by reading instructions from at least one machine readablenon-transitory tangible medium, to perform all or a part of functions ofthe automated driving and driver assistance ECU 14 and the lamp ECU 19.Such a medium may take many forms, including, but not limited to, anytype of magnetic medium such as a hard disk, any type of optical mediumsuch as a CD and a DVD, any type of semiconductor memory (i.e.,semiconductor circuit) such as a volatile memory and a non-volatilememory. The volatile memory may include a DRAM and a SRAM, and thenonvolatile memory may include a ROM and a NVRAM. The ASIC is anintegrated circuit (IC) customized to perform, and the FPGA is anintegrated circuit designed to be configured after manufacturing inorder to perform, all or a part of the functions of the automateddriving and driver assistance ECU 14 and the lamp ECU 19 illustrated inFIG. 2.

It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations may be madeby persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope asdefined by the appended claims. The use of the terms first, second, etc.does not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first,second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Thetechnology is intended to include such modifications and alterations inso far as they fall within the scope of the appended claims or theequivalents thereof.

1. An automated driving enabled vehicle, comprising: a travel controllerconfigured to control travel of the vehicle while switching a travelcontrol state between automated driving and manual driving; an automateddriving indicator lamp configured to be switched on perceptibly fromoutside the vehicle on an occasion of the automated driving; and a lampcontroller configured to switch on the automated driving indicator lampto indicate that the travel control state is the automated driving,during execution of the automated driving in which the travel controllercontrols the travel of the vehicle by the automated driving, the lampcontroller being configured to acquire, during the execution of theautomated driving, attribute information regarding a place beingtraveled by the vehicle, and make a lighting control of the automateddriving indicator lamp during the execution of the automated driving, inaccordance with the place being traveled by the vehicle executing theautomated driving.
 2. The automated driving enabled vehicle according toclaim 1, wherein the lamp controller is configured to switch off theautomated driving indicator lamp during the execution of the automateddriving, on a condition that the vehicle executing the automated drivingis traveling in an exclusive place for the automated driving.
 3. Theautomated driving enabled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the lampcontroller is configured to acquire information regarding a surroundingmoving body around the vehicle traveling by the automated driving in anexclusive place for the automated driving, and switch on the automateddriving indicator lamp during the execution of the automated driving, ona condition that the surrounding moving body is present around thevehicle, regardless that the vehicle is traveling by the automateddriving in the exclusive place for the automated driving.
 4. Theautomated driving enabled vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the lampcontroller is configured to acquire information regarding a surroundingmoving body around the vehicle traveling by the automated driving in anexclusive place for the automated driving, and switch on the automateddriving indicator lamp during the execution of the automated driving, ona condition that the surrounding moving body is present around thevehicle, regardless that the vehicle is traveling by the automateddriving in the exclusive place for the automated driving.
 5. Theautomated driving enabled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the lampcontroller is configured to acquire information regarding a surroundingmoving body around the vehicle traveling by the automated driving in anexclusive place for the automated driving, switch on the automateddriving indicator lamp during the execution of the automated driving, ona condition that the surrounding moving body present around the vehicleexecuting the automated driving comprises anything other than anautonomous vehicle, regardless that the vehicle is traveling by theautomated driving in the exclusive place for the automated driving, andswitch off the automated driving indicator lamp during the execution ofthe automated driving, on a condition that the surrounding moving bodypresent around the vehicle executing the automated driving comprises anautonomous vehicle.
 6. The automated driving enabled vehicle accordingto claim 2, wherein the lamp controller is configured to acquireinformation regarding a surrounding moving body around the vehicletraveling by the automated driving in an exclusive place for theautomated driving, switch on the automated driving indicator lamp duringthe execution of the automated driving, on a condition that thesurrounding moving body present around the vehicle executing theautomated driving comprises anything other than an autonomous vehicle,regardless that the vehicle is traveling by the automated driving in theexclusive place for the automated driving, and switch off the automateddriving indicator lamp during the execution of the automated driving, ona condition that the surrounding moving body present around the vehicleexecuting the automated driving comprises an autonomous vehicle.
 7. Theautomated driving enabled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the lampcontroller is configured to acquire, during the execution of theautomated driving, the attribute information regarding the place beingtraveled by the vehicle, after switching off the automated drivingindicator lamp during the execution of the automated driving, and switchthe automated driving indicator lamp back on that has been off duringthe execution of the automated driving, on a condition that the vehicleexecuting the automated driving has left the exclusive place for theautomated driving and is traveling.
 8. The automated driving enabledvehicle according to claim 2, wherein the lamp controller is configuredto acquire, during the execution of the automated driving, the attributeinformation regarding the place being traveled by the vehicle, afterswitching off the automated driving indicator lamp during the executionof the automated driving, and switch the automated driving indicatorlamp back on that has been off during the execution of the automateddriving, on a condition that the vehicle executing the automated drivinghas left the exclusive place for the automated driving and is traveling.9. The automated driving enabled vehicle according to claim 1, whereinthe lamp controller is configured to switch the automated drivingindicator lamp back on, and afterwards, switch off the automated drivingindicator lamp, on a condition that the travel controller switches thetravel control state of the vehicle from the automated driving after thelamp controller switches off the automated driving indicator lamp duringthe execution of the automated driving.
 10. The automated drivingenabled vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the lamp controller isconfigured to switch the automated driving indicator lamp back on, andafterwards, switch off the automated driving indicator lamp, on acondition that the travel controller switches the travel control stateof the vehicle from the automated driving after the lamp controllerswitches off the automated driving indicator lamp during the executionof the automated driving.
 11. The automated driving enabled vehicleaccording to claim 1, wherein the lamp controller is configured toswitch the automated driving indicator lamp back on that has been offduring the execution of the automated driving, on a condition that anabnormality or a disturbance that affects the travel of the vehicle isdetected or predicted, with the automated driving indicator lamp offduring the execution of the automated driving.
 12. The automated drivingenabled vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the lamp controller isconfigured to switch the automated driving indicator lamp back on thathas been off during the execution of the automated driving, on acondition that an abnormality or a disturbance that affects the travelof the vehicle is detected or predicted, with the automated drivingindicator lamp off during the execution of the automated driving. 13.The automated driving enabled vehicle according to claim 1, wherein thelamp controller is configured to change, during the execution of theautomated driving, a lighting state of the automated driving indicatorlamp on a basis of user setting regarding the lighting control of theautomated driving indicator lamp during the execution of the automateddriving.
 14. The automated driving enabled vehicle according to claim 2,wherein the lamp controller is configured to change, during theexecution of the automated driving, a lighting state of the automateddriving indicator lamp on a basis of user setting regarding the lightingcontrol of the automated driving indicator lamp during the execution ofthe automated driving.
 15. The automated driving enabled vehicleaccording to claim 1, further comprising an alarm device configured tooutput an alarm, on a condition that the lamp controller changes alighting state of the automated driving indicator lamp during theexecution of the automated driving in which the travel controllercontrols the travel of the vehicle by the automated driving.
 16. Theautomated driving enabled vehicle according to claim 2, furthercomprising an alarm device configured to output an alarm, on a conditionthat the lamp controller changes a lighting state of the automateddriving indicator lamp during the execution of the automated driving inwhich the travel controller controls the travel of the vehicle by theautomated driving.